Travel Guides

Yasukuni Shrine

To the north of the Imperial Palace lies the controversial
Yasukuni Shrine, built long ago to commemorate the Japanese war
dead and now regarded as home to the souls of about two and a half
million who perished in conflict, mostly in the Pacific War of
World War II. Japanese soldiers fought in the knowledge that their
spirits would find rest and honour at Yasukuni in the after-life.
The shrine has caused controversy for various political reasons
over the years since it was built in 1869 in honour of supporters
of the emperor, killed in the run up to the Meiji Restoration. More
recently, with regard to the country's constitution, that requires
the separation of state and religion, cabinet ministers have been
criticised for attending anniversaries of Japan's defeat in World
War II held at the shrine. The shrine is confined behind a huge
steel torii gate, opening onto a long avenue lined with gingko and
cherry trees. The Worship Hall itself is a simple Shinto style
building. North of the shrine is the Yushukan Museum, containing
war memorabilia, some of which is disturbing and thought-provoking
such as the human torpedo and kamikaze suicide attack plane. The
shrine and museum will be fascinating for those interested in
military history.